Navarre man sentenced to 20 years

A Navarre man who plead guilty to charges of breaking into a neighbor’s home and assaulting them at gunpoint has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in state prison Friday, Sept. 15.

According to State Attorney Bill Eddins’ office, Francisco Aponte Carrasquillo, 51, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Ross Goodman to a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years in state prison without the possibility of early release.

He must serve the entire 20 years in prison.

Carrasquillo pleaded guilty Aug. 15, 2016 to aggravated assault by threat with a firearm, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting within a building and criminal mischief.

On Nov. 26, 2015, Carrasquillo, a convicted felon, kicked in the door of a neighbor’s home, struck the victim in the head with a firearm and then fired it at the victim. The victim was able to get the firearm away from Carrasquillo and hold him until law enforcement arrived.

Carrasquillo admitted to law enforcement that he entered the home uninvited and struck the victim in the head with the firearm prior to it being discharged.

The case was investigated by the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office. Amber Rowland prosecuted the case for the State.